What Situations Would Make You Move Clubs at U16 and up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What situations would make you consider switching clubs for your DS/DD once they hit recruiting years? Seems like all the DA/ECNL clubs are having ID sessions including these age groups but I wonder how much movement there really is?

Not in order of importance:
1. We'd move from ECNL to DA I'd given the chance and we weren't already DA. There's a lot more preparation for showcases because of the way the league. Spending the year with her team, not having high school interfere, showcases spread throughout the year, and so on.

2. Bloated rosters. We wouldn't stay with a club that does that.

3. Better coaching, better players to train with. All that raises the quality of environment.

4. A real interest in my DD as a player. Based on experience, coaches that really want and are interested in her will give more to her in the training sessions, better feedback in the games, more time on the field, and they will talk her up, not down, to perspective colleges.

What is a bloated roster?

More then 18 players.

yikez! I hate to ask but which club is known for doing this? next when we try out for ECNL should I ask the coach if they are bloated or will they lie to me?

BRYC does. I would count current rosters. If they are doing it now, they will do it next year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What situations would make you consider switching clubs for your DS/DD once they hit recruiting years? Seems like all the DA/ECNL clubs are having ID sessions including these age groups but I wonder how much movement there really is?

Not in order of importance:
1. We'd move from ECNL to DA I'd given the chance and we weren't already DA. There's a lot more preparation for showcases because of the way the league. Spending the year with her team, not having high school interfere, showcases spread throughout the year, and so on.

2. Bloated rosters. We wouldn't stay with a club that does that.

3. Better coaching, better players to train with. All that raises the quality of environment.

4. A real interest in my DD as a player. Based on experience, coaches that really want and are interested in her will give more to her in the training sessions, better feedback in the games, more time on the field, and they will talk her up, not down, to perspective colleges.

What is a bloated roster?

More then 18 players.

yikez! I hate to ask but which club is known for doing this? next when we try out for ECNL should I ask the coach if they are bloated or will they lie to me?

BRYC does. I would count current rosters. If they are doing it now, they will do it next year.

Mclean has 20+ on every roster

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What situations would make you consider switching clubs for your DS/DD once they hit recruiting years? Seems like all the DA/ECNL clubs are having ID sessions including these age groups but I wonder how much movement there really is?

Not in order of importance:
1. We'd move from ECNL to DA I'd given the chance and we weren't already DA. There's a lot more preparation for showcases because of the way the league. Spending the year with her team, not having high school interfere, showcases spread throughout the year, and so on.

2. Bloated rosters. We wouldn't stay with a club that does that.

3. Better coaching, better players to train with. All that raises the quality of environment.

4. A real interest in my DD as a player. Based on experience, coaches that really want and are interested in her will give more to her in the training sessions, better feedback in the games, more time on the field, and they will talk her up, not down, to perspective colleges.

What is a bloated roster?

More then 18 players.

yikez! I hate to ask but which club is known for doing this? next when we try out for ECNL should I ask the coach if they are bloated or will they lie to me?

BRYC does. I would count current rosters. If they are doing it now, they will do it next year.

Mclean has 20+ on every roster

Then that's another one. And I know at least some of the Loudoun ECNL teams are pretty large.

[Anonymous]

VDA has about 35+ players per age group

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:VDA has about 35+ players per age group

That's blatantly false, but I did find a few 20+ rosters. Someone mentioned if PT/DPs were marked as such in the ECNL. Arlington and MU have better roster sizes. I like that about both clubs. FCV will go big if there is a huge talent pool coming in, but will keep it smaller if the talent just isn't there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What situations would make you consider switching clubs for your DS/DD once they hit recruiting years? Seems like all the DA/ECNL clubs are having ID sessions including these age groups but I wonder how much movement there really is?

Not in order of importance:
1. We'd move from ECNL to DA I'd given the chance and we weren't already DA. There's a lot more preparation for showcases because of the way the league. Spending the year with her team, not having high school interfere, showcases spread throughout the year, and so on.

2. Bloated rosters. We wouldn't stay with a club that does that.

3. Better coaching, better players to train with. All that raises the quality of environment.

4. A real interest in my DD as a player. Based on experience, coaches that really want and are interested in her will give more to her in the training sessions, better feedback in the games, more time on the field, and they will talk her up, not down, to perspective colleges.

What is a bloated roster?

More then 18 players.

yikez! I hate to ask but which club is known for doing this? next when we try out for ECNL should I ask the coach if they are bloated or will they lie to me?

MCLEAN

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What situations would make you consider switching clubs for your DS/DD once they hit recruiting years? Seems like all the DA/ECNL clubs are having ID sessions including these age groups but I wonder how much movement there really is?

Not in order of importance:
1. We'd move from ECNL to DA I'd given the chance and we weren't already DA. There's a lot more preparation for showcases because of the way the league. Spending the year with her team, not having high school interfere, showcases spread throughout the year, and so on.

2. Bloated rosters. We wouldn't stay with a club that does that.

3. Better coaching, better players to train with. All that raises the quality of environment.

4. A real interest in my DD as a player. Based on experience, coaches that really want and are interested in her will give more to her in the training sessions, better feedback in the games, more time on the field, and they will talk her up, not down, to perspective colleges.

What is a bloated roster?

At U16 and above (the age in original question) 18 is usually the limit on game day rosters for most leagues. To accommodate injuries and scheduling conflicts it is possible to make the case for having one or two more than that on the roster. Anything over 20 is usually a money grab, and over 18 is questionable depending on circumstances and level of commitment.

At younger ages than that there should never be a need for a roster that large. The kids aren't juggling so many other priorities and should be showing up, and long-term injuries are much less frequent.

[Anonymous]

Roster size is only important for players near the back half of the roster. Large rosters will affect these players much more so than the starting 11. Most of these clubs will give the majority of playing time to the starting 11.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Roster size is only important for players near the back half of the roster. Large rosters will affect these players much more so than the starting 11. Most of these clubs will give the majority of playing time to the starting 11.

It also affects the quality of the training environment, which affects everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Roster size is only important for players near the back half of the roster. Large rosters will affect these players much more so than the starting 11. Most of these clubs will give the majority of playing time to the starting 11.

It also affects the quality of the training environment, which affects everyone.

Entire team is affected. Find rosters of 18 or less if you can. much more desirable for every player involved.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Roster size is only important for players near the back half of the roster. Large rosters will affect these players much more so than the starting 11. Most of these clubs will give the majority of playing time to the starting 11.

It also affects the quality of the training environment, which affects everyone.

Entire team is affected. Find rosters of 18 or less if you can. much more desirable for every player involved.

+100. Bloated rosters don't make anyone happy except the clubs getting the checks. None of the players enjoy it, not even the top player playing every minute of every game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Roster size is only important for players near the back half of the roster. Large rosters will affect these players much more so than the starting 11. Most of these clubs will give the majority of playing time to the starting 11.

It also affects the quality of the training environment, which affects everyone.

Entire team is affected. Find rosters of 18 or less if you can. much more desirable for every player involved.

+100. Bloated rosters don't make anyone happy except the clubs getting the checks. None of the players enjoy it, not even the top player playing every minute of every game.

Bloated rosters do suck but their existence is a two way street. Friends don't let friends sign their bench player up to be kid 20 on a soccer team.

1. Be realistic about your kids abilities AND potential. (Very different)
2. Look at the roster sizes at the prospective club for your age group now. Also look at the other age groups relative to your kid. Is there a trend of expanding or declining?
3. Ask the coach straight forward where your kid fits in.
4. Ask the coach straight forward how many will be rostered.

Make your own decision. You don't have to accept an offer if the situation is sketchy to you from the get go.

Don't buy in to the most idealistic scenario because it makes you feel good. Look at the actual most likely scenario.

But the reality is people join bloated rosters willingly because they fear that it is the last plane out for their kid and they have bigger questions to be answered about their kids playing future and potential.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Roster size is only important for players near the back half of the roster. Large rosters will affect these players much more so than the starting 11. Most of these clubs will give the majority of playing time to the starting 11.

It also affects the quality of the training environment, which affects everyone.

Entire team is affected. Find rosters of 18 or less if you can. much more desirable for every player involved.

+100. Bloated rosters don't make anyone happy except the clubs getting the checks. None of the players enjoy it, not even the top player playing every minute of every game.

Bloated rosters do suck but their existence is a two way street. Friends don't let friends sign their bench player up to be kid 20 on a soccer team.

1. Be realistic about your kids abilities AND potential. (Very different)
2. Look at the roster sizes at the prospective club for your age group now. Also look at the other age groups relative to your kid. Is there a trend of expanding or declining?
3. Ask the coach straight forward where your kid fits in.
4. Ask the coach straight forward how many will be rostered.

Make your own decision. You don't have to accept an offer if the situation is sketchy to you from the get go.

Don't buy in to the most idealistic scenario because it makes you feel good. Look at the actual most likely scenario.

But the reality is people join bloated rosters willingly because they fear that it is the last plane out for their kid and they have bigger questions to be answered about their kids playing future and potential.

I agree. We didn't.

[Anonymous]

IF you can find a roster of 18 or less in a team that is good fit - lucky you. too big rosters are hands down the number one issue causing frustration and team friction because it exacerbates playing time issues by definition. not good. Try to avoid.

Also know that even if you find a roster of 18, the playing time may still be quite limited for the weakest members of the team. Explore this issue in detail before you commit. Some players are told they will not play much and accept anyway which is fine I guess (mine would be miserable in this but I wont speak for others).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:IF you can find a roster of 18 or less in a team that is good fit - lucky you. too big rosters are hands down the number one issue causing frustration and team friction because it exacerbates playing time issues by definition. not good. Try to avoid.

Also know that even if you find a roster of 18, the playing time may still be quite limited for the weakest members of the team. Explore this issue in detail before you commit. Some players are told they will not play much and accept anyway which is fine I guess (mine would be miserable in this but I wont speak for others).

You are right. There will always be some who see less time on the field (although some clubs are more "generous" than others). I actually confess even before the GDA, that was one thing I liked about the BDA: the 25% start rule. I saw kids on our old ECNL team never get any real time and for the time commitment to the club, I always felt bad for them.

I wouldn't accept it either. I'd rather she play somewhere else, and so would she. I think though that even with less playing time, it's still a better training environment.

I have also liked the move from DP to PT. The new rules have given more flexibility to clubs and I think it's player friendly.